Icon Vehicle Dynamics Coilovers - prototypes INSTALLED!

[bgwolfpack]

Sorry Roadie. I know you just got your new toys. I don't mean to ruin it for you.

[teebes]

Oh, and Johnny == OregTrailBlazin (member here) == Wheelers Offroad Rep (vendor here).

If you are serious about getting some coilovers, PM or email Johnny to get on his radar. He has a direct connection back to Icon which does make a difference

[bgwolfpack]

Thanks for the info Teebes.

I'm in a different scenario than most of you. It's called homework.

BDS = $445.02
Bilstein H/D = $120.54 or Icon = ? (probably $800.00 - $1000.00)

Will they be worth twice as much?

Only Roadie can tell.

[bartonmd]

Thanks for the info Teebes.

I'm in a different scenario than most of you. It's called homework.

BDS = $445.02
Bilstein H/D = $120.54 or Icon = ? (probably $800.00 - $1000.00)

Will they be worth twice as much?

Only Roadie can tell.

I can tell you FOR SURE that a full-on aftermarket shock with the spring weight that you order, that is adjustable for preload via a spanner wrench is 1000x better than a lift kit and OEM replacement shocks...

The Icons are rebuildable too, right?

Mike

[Zero]

its about freakin time! now i just have to get back to work on fabing up some new control arms

[The Roadie]

The Icons are rebuildable, but due to the nitrogen high pressure charge (?) they might not be FIELD-rebuildable. Might be a factory or professional shop process. I haven't done the research yet, but it's a bit early to worry about.

[bartonmd]

The Icons are rebuildable, but due to the nitrogen high pressure charge (?) they might not be FIELD-rebuildable. Might be a factory or professional shop process. I haven't done the research yet, but it's a bit early to worry about.

Correct... Like the Ohlins on my motorcycle... Send it in for a rebuild for a couple hundered bucks... Basically an oil and seal change, with a gas recharge...

Mike

[OregTrailBlazin]

Is Icon going to actually offer these now? or were these a one-off proto that won't ever come to market?

That is a good question!! And it depends allot on all of us. Like Roadie said there seems to be only a dozen rigs that can or would do this mod. But I believe a dozen orders would enough to get them to do a production run. They normally run about 1050$ for the pair. If there is enough interest I would love to set up a group buy and get the price down around $850 for the pair.

They are completely re-valveable, and re-buildable. But like roadie said it's not something you want to do in the field. If they were to blow out while wheeling, nothing but loss of dampening will happen, you could still limp home just fine. To send them in to be rebuilt, it usually runs about 60-80$ per shock, a little less then buying a new set of HD's.

The next step is testing, testing, then a bit more. After that, I'll send Roadie up to Icon and let them do their testing.


I'm running low on time right now, but if anyone has any question on them feel free to post it up or drop me a PM.. I Imagine the Mods would like Us to keep the "oohs and Ahhs" from cluttering up the thread, so try and keep the posts relevant.

[teebes]

Where are the pics?


They better be in by now

[bgwolfpack]

Where are the pics?


They better be in by now

I think Philberto is rubbing off on Roadie. Neither one seems to follow through in regards to pics.

[The Roadie]

Jabs don't motivate me more than my own curiosity. I need to buy some hardened 3/16" bolts and lock washers - on my way out the door NOW. I'm shocked I didn't already have this size in stock. And I neglected to pay for the attractive designer install kit so I didn't get the ones Johnny used for testing.

[OregTrailBlazin]

And I neglected to pay for the attractive designer install kit so I didn't get the ones Johnny used for testing.

I used the bolts holding on my shocks for testing..!!! But I did find a bag of shiny new bolts in the back of my TB that somehow didn't endup in the box with the rest of it! I'll have to bring them down yso you can put them on your shelf for next time.

[foosh]

How many bolts hold it on, it looked like there where quite a few from what i could see.

[OregTrailBlazin]

How many bolts hold it on, it looked like there where quite a few from what i could see.

Just three, the top caps have different patterns for the different model toyota's they use them on.

[The Roadie]

They're in, it just got dark and cold (55 degrees when you're working in a tshirt is cold), took lots of pics, but I've gotta go TEST 'em now. Not going to do a trail in the dark, but a few speed bumps at high speed should suffice. Gained 3/4"-1" in resting height due to stiffer springs. Extended length is within 1/4" of stock. As usual, there's a learning curve, and the second one took 1/4 the time of the first because of inaccurate drilling on my part of the upper mount. I have enough feedback ideas that should make production ones more plug&play.

[MrSmithsTB]

Awesome. No go have fun. And then show us pictures. Lots and lots.

[foosh]

Yeah! Wait to go roadie, just don't blow out your rear Stuts while you do high speed testing...

[The Roadie]

Taking off the old



BDS top plate



Icon top. Female 3/16"X16 holes. Not having male studs makes it tougher to install. Different bolt circle diameter means you need a template to drill your upper coilover bucket.



Start of the template



Had to chase out the threads - Icon was assuming you'd use bolts that didn't go all the way through their plate, but I was.



Template



Drilled



Passenger side installed!



Top



Full length



Bolt heads



Driver's side drilled



Bolted



Installed at the top. Lower yoke mount coming. With the Heim up top, the strut can be moved around easily to put the yoke on last.



Went for a short drive in the dark. After 75K on my HD Bilsteins, these 2.5" Icon shocks are a DREAM. 3/4"-1" less sag under the weight of the bumper and winch and HiLift (180-200 extra pounds) due to stiffer springs. More dynamic testing tomorrow offroad!

[teebes]

Did Johnny throw in a wrench to fiddle with the preload? If not, I might have something that will work.

[Trail X]

How much down travel does the suspension have from rest? Since you said it went just about as far down as the stock setup does, and it gives you more lift, it doesn't sound like it leaves much down travel.

Does the top mounting plate swivel in 2 axis or only one? Hard to be sure from the few pictures i've seen... looks like 2.

What spring stiffness did you end up going with?